Caisson and detachable pontoon assembly for floating barges and the like



May 17, 1960 G. E. SUDEROW 2,936,592

CAISSON AND DETACHABLE PONTOON ASSEMBLY FOR FLOATING BARGES AND THE LIKEOriginal Filed July 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Gporge E. Slider 0,10,

ATTORNEY- May 17, 1960 G. E. SUDEROW CAISSON AND DETACHABLE PONTOONASSEMBLY FOR FLOATING BARGES AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 8, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 2 20 iii Has Iii 32 IN VENTOR.

y 1960 G E SUDEROW 2,936,592

CAISSON AND DETAbHABLE PONTOON ASSEMBLY FOR FLOATING BARGES AND THE LIKEOriginal Filed July 8, 1954 5 SheetsSheet 3 L l. I

IN V'ENTOR:

Georg;- E/Sfuderp w,

ATTORNEY.

y 17, 1960 G E. SUDERQW 2,936,592

CAISSON AND DE ITACHABLE PONTOON ASSEMBLY FOR FLOATING BARGES AND THELIKE Original Filed July 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 16.

INVENTOR:

G060 3,6 1?. Qudezmq %WZMM W ATTORNEYS.

y 1960 G. E. SUDEROW 2,936,592

CAISSON AND DETACHABLEI PONTOON ASSEMBLY FOR FLOATING BARGES AND THELIKE Original Filed July 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 77 c 3 J "L1 77 r v 058 6011 i 73 INVENTOR:

Gpmyp E.S;uderpzv,

ATTORNEyJi CAISSON AND DETACHABLE PONTOON ASSEM- 1 BLY FOR FLOATINGBARGES AND THE LIKE George E. Suderow, New York, N.Y., assignor toDeLoug Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of DelawareContinuation of application Serial No. 442,110, July 8, This applicationNovember 29, 1956, Serial No. 76

14 Claims. (Cl. 61-465) faces or foundation footage for supporting thebarge or working platform when the same is raised above the water andthe pontoons are moved into engagement with the marine ground. Thisapplication is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No.442,110, filed July 8, l954,now abandoned.

An important object consists in providing each of the caissons withmovable locking members arranged releasably to engage a pontoon or tankand which is operable by means positioned remote from the pontoon, whenthe latter is submerged to engage the marine ground.

Another object consists in providing remote control means for detachablyconnecting the pontoons or tanks to the caissons, so that each pontoonmay be abandoned and left submerged when it is held fast or embedded inthe subaqueous ground.

A still further object consists in associating with each tank orpontoon, spaced jet nozzles extending from the bottom of the tank anddetachably communicating with suitable fluid pressure means so as tofacilitate freeing of the tank from the submerged bottom. Thus, it willbe seen that should the tank be so embedded into the ground as to makeremoval thereof difficult and expensive, the tank may be abandoned dueto the releasable connection ofthe caisson therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings. p Refem'ng to the drawings, in whichare shown several preferred embodiments the invention may assume:

Figure 1 is a detailed, vertical, sectional view showing the releasablemeans for detachably connecting a caisson 'to a pontoon or tank and withthe locking members in the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, detailed, vertical, sectional view showing themovable locking members in their retracted position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showingthe movable members intheir locked position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a detailed plan view with parts removed and showing the topof a tank with the caisson removed therefrom;

' Unit d S airs Patfifo" fled form of the invention;

2,936,592 Patented Ma 17, 19 9 along the line 1313 of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a detail perspective view, with section, of a portion ofthe tank; Figure 15 is a side view with parts in section of a modipartsin the line 1616 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a detailed, vertical, sectional view of the tank shown inFigure 15 but with the pontoon removed therefrom;

Figure 18 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 1813 ofFigure 17;

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1919 ofFigure 17;

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2020 ofFigure 17;

Figure 21 is a sectional view showing the means for releasablyconnecting the caisson to the tank in their locked position; and

Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure 21 but showing the locking meansreleased.

Referring to the drawings, 10 conventionally indicates the deck orworking platform of a floating barge (Fig. 1) which may be provided witha plurality of spaced guide openings 11 through each of which isarranged to movably extend a caisson or tubular member 12 so as to beoperable by means of a suitable jack mechanism, such as disclosed in thecopending Pointer application, Serial No. 283,567, filed April 22, 1952,now Patent No. 2,775,869, dated January 1, 1957. In order to provideadditional footage and a firm wide bearing surface for supporting theload when the barge or platform It} is jacked clear of the water, arigid durable metal pontoon or tank 13 is arranged to be detachablyconnected to the lower end of the caisson 12 in such a manner, that ifthe tank 13 should be so embedded or stuck into the marine ground as tobe held fast therein and cannot easily be withdrawn with the caisson 12,remote control means are provided for controlling the detachableconnecting of each caisson 12 with its associated tank 13. For thispurpose, each of the caissons or tubular members 12 has mounted thereinadjacent the lower end thereof, a transverse base or supporting disc 14provided with a central opening 15 and an offset opening 16 (Fig. 1).Extending throughthe opening 15 and mounted on the base 14 is anelongated cylinder 17 in which is reciprocally mounted a piston 9 havinga stem or rod 18 (Figure 5). A combined fluid pressure inlet and outletpipe 19 communicates with one end of the cylinder 17 and a combinedinlet and outlet fluid pressure pipe 20 communicates with the oppositeend thereof so as to control the reciprocating movement of the piston 9.The pipes 19 and 20 communicate with any suitable source of fluidpressure, such as air or water, not shown, and which preferably ispositioned on the deck 10 at a point remote from the tank 13. The lower,outer end of the piston rod 18 has extending radially therefrom fouruniformly spaced webs or flanges 21, to each of which is pivotallyconnected a pair of spaced links 22 at their inner ends as at 23 (Figure4). Each pair of links 22 is also pivotally connected to the lug 24 of alocking jaw or member 25 as at 26. "Each of the jaws 25 is pivoted attank has a central opening 31 (Figure 10) which is formed with fourcommunicating radial slots 32 by the horizontal flat plates 33 (Figure12) and the spaced, vertical plates 34 so arranged as to provide theintersecting slots 32 (Figure 7) disposed substantially at right anglesto adjacent slots. These slots are so shaped and positioned as toreceive the locking jaws 25 when the latter (are moved from theirretracted position, as shown in Figure 4, to their locking position, asshown in Figure 5. Each of the jaws 25 has aflat shoulder portion 35,and the top 30 of the tank is provided with thick reinforcing plates 36that fit within the slots 32. The wall of the opening 31 and the plates36 extend inwardly so as to overlap a portion of the slots as at 37 andprovide locking lugs engageable with the jaws 25. When the caisson 12 isin alignment with the opening 31 of the tank and the jaws are in theirretracted position (Figure 4), upon the actuation of the links 22 by thedownward movement of the piston 9, the fiat shoulders 35 of the jaws 25will be moved to engage the underside of the portions 37 of v the top inorder to firmly and securely lock each caisson 12 to its associated tank13 (Figure The adjacent bulkheads 29 and the vertical plates 34 aresuitably connected to plates or webs 38 that extend between adjacentbulkheads 29 and close the outer ends of the slots 32 to make the tankwatertight. The plates 38 may be welded to the bulkheads 29 and the top30, as at 39 (Figure 12). The bulkheads 29 are coextensive in lengthwith the interior of the tank and are cut away or slotted to allow theinsertion of such parts as the plates 32, 34, and 38 to which they areconnected to provide a firm, rigid, and durable watertight structurecapable of withstanding the pressure and strains to which a device ofthis character is normally subjected.

Circumferentially spaced substantially T-shaped vertical plates or webs40 extend radially from the inner side wall of the tank 13 between thebulkheads 29 (Figure 3). The plates 40 may be welded or otherwiseconnected to the inner wall of the tank 13, the top 30, and the annulardepending plate 38. Additionally, the plates 40 at their lower ends areconnected to or engage the radial arms 41 of a transverse member 42which has depending vertical cross webs 43 (Figure 14) shaped to rest onthe curved bottom 44 of the tank. The arms 41 terminate in inclineddepending end portions or chocks 46 which are positioned adjacent thespaced jet discharge nipples 45 that extend downwardly from the curvedbottom 44 and may be welded or otherwise connected thereto. One or morenipples 45 maybe provided. Vertically disposed angle members 47 may bewelded as at 48 to the bulkheads 29 and to the bottom and top of thetank 13 to stiffen or reinforce the same, in order that the tanks 13 maybe capable of withstanding the heavy load to which they are subjectedwhen the barge or working platform is raised above the level of thewater and is supported directly by the caissons and the tanks 13.

A fluid pressure pipe 49 (Figure 8) is provided with a nozzle housing 50which extends through the ofiset opening 16 and is arranged to beremovably inserted into a similarly shaped, fixed, tapered nozzlereceptor 51 that registers with the offset opening 52 formed in the top30 of the tank. .Extending downwardly from the receptor 51 is a fixeddistributing pipe 53 that communicates with each of the jet nozzles 45through the branch pipes 54 connected by the fitting 55 (Figure 1) tothe lower end of the pipe 53. When connecting the caisson '12 to itsassociated tank 13, the releasable locking mechanism is properly alignedwith the slots 32 and the nozzle housing 50 is then moved intoregistration and through the opening 52 into the receptor 51.

It will be seen that the nozzle housing 50 is movable 'with the caisson12 so that when the clamping jaws 25 are aligned with the slots 32, thenozzle housing 50 will register with the opening 52 in the tank, so thatwhen the jaws 25 are moved into clamping engagement with the undersideof the top 30 of the tank, the tapered outer end of the housing 50 willbe moved into tight frictional engagement with the complementary innerwall of the receptor 51 to form a tight seal therewith.

When the parts are in the position as shown in Figure 8 and the tank isengaged or embedded in the marine ground, fluid pressure such as air orwater from a suitable source may be introduced into the pipe 49, fromwhere it is conducted by the pipe 53 to the branch pipes 54 that extendinto the nozzles 45 through openings in the bottom 44, so as to releasethe tank from its submerged position. The jet nozzles 45 also serve toprovide firm bearing feet for maintaining the tank on hilly or unevenmarine ground and are cut off from communication with the interior ofthe tank 13. If the tank 13 cannot be released from the marine bottom orground, the caisson 12 may be disconnected from the tank by withdrawingthe clamping jaws 25 from engagement with the top of the tank and theplates 36.

In operation, the marine vessel such as a combined floating barge andworking platform to be used in subaqueous operations, is provided with aplurality of tubular caissons 12 which extend through suitable openings11 in the deck 10 of the barge, and carry with them the tanks orpontoons 13 which are connected by reason of the engagement of theclamping jaws 25 with the underside of each of the tops of the tanks.The caissons and tanks are carried in their retracted position to wherethe drilling operation is to take place. When the barge reaches thislocation, the caissons 12 and tanks 13 are lowered until the tanksengage the marine ground. By reason of the concavity of the bottom ofeach of the tanks and the depending jet nipples 45, each tank is firmlymaintained in a fixed position irrespective of the irregularity of theterrain so as to provide a firm supporting foundation. The workingplatform or deck 10 of the barge may then be raised above the waterlevel by the jack mechanismsuch as disclosed in the said Pointerapplication, Serial No. 283,567. When the drilling operation iscompleted, air under pressure may be introduced into the pipe 49 whichcommunicates through the pipe 53 with the branch connections 54 so as torelease the bottom of each of the tanks 13 from the marine ground. If,for

any reason, a tank cannot be so freed, the piston 9 is from the tank atthe same time the housing 50 is moved away from the tapered receptor 51.V

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 15 to 21,inclusive, each of the tubular caissons or columns-56 is providedadjacent its lower end with a transverse plate or disc 57 (Figure 15),to the underside of which are connected spaced fluid-pressure cylinders58.

' through the pipes 66 with the front of the cylinders 58 and throughthe pipes 67 with the rear of each cylinder so that each piston 59 ispositioned between a pair of pipes. A combined inlet and exhaust pipe 68extends outwardly from the housing 65 so as to control the flow of thefluid into and out of each cylinder. As shown,

each of the cylinders 58 is connected by a bracket 69 (Figure 22) to theunderside of the plate 57 through the bolts 70. However, any othersuitable means may be used for maintaining the cylinders and theirassociated parts in proper position within the caisson.

A tank or pontoon 71 is arranged to be detachably connected to eachcaisson 56 so as to furnish an additional supporting foundation for theassembly in order .to maintain the working platform and its associatedparts above the water level during the drilling or other operation withwhich the assembly is used. The top 72 of the receiving the locking pins62 that are operable by the pistons 59. The walls 74 and 75 togetherwith the closed notch 77 provide a watertight recess 73 for releasablyreceiving the caisson 56. The bottom 75 of the recess 73 is providedwith an oflset opening 78 (Figure 16) through which extends a fluidpressure pipe 79 (Figure 21) that has a tapered nozzle end 80 arrangedto be removably inserted into a complementary opening in a fluid supplycasing 81 that communicates with a suitable source of fluid pressuresuch as water, air, or gas, in a manner similar to the pipe 49previously described. The bottom 82 of the tank 71 is convex and hasextending outwardly and downwardly therefrom spaced jet nipples 83 towhich fluid under pressure is delivered through the branches 84 of thepipe 79 so as to facilitate the release of the tank from the marineground.

The inside of the tank 71 is provided with the diametrically disposedbulkheads or reinforcing partitions 85 (Figure 18) which separate thesame into four compartments. The bulkheads 85 extend from the bottom tothe top of the tank and may be reinforced by the angle bars 86 which arewelded thereto as at 87. The bulkheads are connected to. the inner wallof the tank and to the wall of the recess 73 at suitably spaced pointsby the welding as at 88 so as to provide watertight compartments. Thelower ends of the bulkheads adjacent the nipples 83 may be provided withreinforcing webs or pins 89 (Figure 19).

In operation, the tanks 71 are normally connected to the caissons 56 byreason of the locking engagement of the pins 62 with their alignedsockets 77 (Figure 22). The caissons and tanks in their raised positionare carried by the barge to the point of operation, and then are loweredso that the tanks or pontoons 71 are moved into firm engagement with theground, so as to be capable of supporting the load of the barge orworking platform and their associated parts, when they are raised abovethe water level to carry out the drilling or other subaqueous operation.

When it is desired to release the tank 71 from the marine bottom, the'air or liquid under pressure is introduced through the pipes 79 and thebranch connections into the nipples 83 so as to loosen the engagement ofthe tank with the ground and then the caisson and tank are raised totheir inoperative position in any suitable manner such as by the jackmechanism as disclosed in said Pointer application, Serial No. 283,567.If for any reason a tank 71 cannot be withdrawn from the marine ground,then the pistons 59 are actuated so as to move the pins 62 to theirretracted positions as particularly shown in Figure 22, so that thecaisson 56 may Y be withdrawn and the tank 71' allowed to remain in theground.

It will be manifest that any number of caissons and tanks may beemployed in order to firmly maintain the working platform and itsassociated parts above the water level during the particular marineoperation with which the device is used. Further, it will be seen thatany suitable fluid pressure such as water, air, or gas may be used foractuating the pistons, or mechanical means may be provided for thispurpose.

The thick reinforcing plate 36 on the underside of the top of the tanktends to provide means for preventing deformation or weakening of thetop of the tank when raising the same. The sockets 77 and the walls ofthe recess are watertight (Figure 22) so as to accommodate thereciprocating locking pins 62. Thus, it will be seen that in all formsof the invention, releasable means are provided to give additional, firmsupporting footage to the caissons when they are bearing the load of thesuperstructure. In other words, the tanks or pontoons constitute astable base for supporting the working platform and its associated partswhen they are raised and maintained in a fixed position above the waterlevel.

It will be understood that the forms of the invention shown are merelyillustrative of preferred embodiments,

and that such changes may be made as come within the purview of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a floating barge, a caisson movably connected tothe barge for supporting the same above the water, a ground-engagingpontoon, locking means for releasably connecting the pontoon to thelower end of said caisson, said locking means including spaced membersmovably mounted in said lower end, said pontoon being provided withmeans for releasable engagement with said movable members to lock saidcaisson to said pontoon, and means controllable from said barge andoperatively connected to said movable members for moving the same in anunlocking direction, independent of movement of said caisson, so thatwhen said pontoon is embedded in the marine ground said caisson may bereleased from said pontoon upon withdrawing said movable members out ofengagement with said pontoon.

2. In combination with a floating barge as called for in claim 1, inwhich releasable interfitting sectional means extend through saidcaisson and said pontoon for supplying fluid under pressure to theunderside of said pontoon when the latter is embedded in the marineground so as to release said pontoon therefrom.

3. In combination with a floating barge as called for in claim 1, inwhich the pontoon has a curved bottom prosaid pontoon is connected tosaid caisson, the supplypipe in said pontoon communicating with saidnoules, and means for supplying fluid under pressure through said supplypipes to said nozzles so as to facilitate the removal of said pontoonfrom the marine ground.

4. In combination with a floating barge, a caisson movably connected tosaid barge for supporting the same above the water, a ground-engagingpontoon having a recess in the top thereof, locking means for releasablyconnecting said caisson to said pontoon, said locking means includingcircumferentially spaced jaws pivotally connected to the lower end ofsaid caisson and arranged when swung outwardly to be moved into saidrecess and engage the underside of the top of said pontoon, and fluidpressure means operatively connected to said jaws for actuating thesame, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when said pontoonis embedded. in the marine ground said caisson may be released from saidpontoon upon withdrawing said jaws from engagement with said pontoon.

5. In combination with a floating barge as called for in withreleasable, interfitting, sectional supply pipes that extend to theundersurface of the pontoon for supplying liquid thereto when the latteris embedded in the marine ground.

.6. The combination as called for in claim 4, in which the pontoon has acurved bottom provided with spaced,

depending jet nozzles, and interfitting, sectional pipes extendingthrough said caisson and said pontoon for supplying fluid underpressureto the undersurface of said i pontoon when the latter isembedded in the marine ground so as to release said pontoon therefrom,and

means for releasably connecting said pipe sections.

7. In combination with a floating barge, a caisson movmeans foractuating said pins so as to move them into .or withdraw them from saidopenings, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when saidpontoon is I embedded in the marine ground said caisson may be releasedfrom said pontoon upon withdrawing said pins from engagement with saidpontoon.

8. In combination with a floating barge as called for in claim 7 inwhich the caisson and pontoon are provided with .releasable interfittingsectional supply pipes that extend to the bottom of said pontoon forsupplying fluid under pressure to the undersurface thereof when saidpontoon is embedded in the marine ground.

9. In combination with a floating barge, a caisson movably connected tothe barge for supporting the same above the water, a ground-engagingpontoon having a reinforced top having crossed slots therein, lockingmeans for releasably connecting said caisson to said pontoon, saidlocking means including circumferentially spaced jaws pivotallyconnected to the lower end of said caisson and arranged when swungoutwardly to be moved into said slots and engage under the ends thereof,and fluid pressure means operatively connected to said jaws foractuating the same.

, 10; In combination with a floating barge as called for in claim 9, inwhich the botto-m of said pontoon is provided with spaced depending jetnipples, and the caisson and pontoon are provided with releasable,interfitting, sectional pipes which communicate with isaid jet nipplesfor supplying fluid under pressure to the undersurface of said pontoonwhen the latter is embedded in the marine ground so as to release thepontoon therefrom.

'11. In a mobile marine structure, including a buo ant platform-likebody having a plurality of upright marine-bottom-engageable legs mountedthereon for substantially vertical movement relative thereto, andpower-operated means for selectively effecting or restraining saidmovement in either direction, the combination of an en larged footingmember for each leg; means detachably connecting said member to thelower end of the corresponding leg including at least one lockingelement movably mounted on the leg for engagement with said member; andmeans controllable from the body for operating said connecting means tomove said element in an unlocking direction, independent of'movement ofsaid leg, and detach said footing member from its leg, whereby should asaid member become stuck in the marine bottom it can be detached fromits leg to permit withdrawal of the latter.

12. The structure defined in claim 11 including .genorally-downwardlydirected nozzle meanson the underside of each footing member, conduitmeans extending from the body through the corresponding leg and memberto the nozzle means for supplying the latter with fluid under pressure,and a pull-releasable coupling in said conduit means beween thecorresponding leg and footing member.

13. The structure defined in claim 11 including means defining a chambersubstantially completely enclosing the connecting means when the memberis connected to the leg.

14. The structure defined in claim 11 in which the controllable meansincludes a fluid pressure motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,308,743 Bulkley et a1 J an. 19, 1943 2,316,199 Vetter Apr. 13, 19432,535,856 Luertzing Dec. 26, 1950 2,607,198 Parks Aug. 19, 19522,637,172 Howard May 5, 1953 2,647,789 Chayne Aug. 4, 1953 2,661,600Hopkins Dec. 8, 1953 2,771,747 Rectin Nov. 27, 1956

